TGIF FEATURE: Grace Kelly opens 'Women in Jazz' in SF

JAZZ SAXOPHONIST GRACE KELLY kicked off SFJazz's 'Women in Jazz' in San Francisco today (Sept. 7).

Other artists scheduled to perform over the next two weekends include Dee Dee Bridgewater, Grace Kelly, Jenny Scheinman, Myra Melford, Kris Davis and Cosa Nostra Strings.
Grace's latest album, "Trying To Figure It Out," was voted  No. 2 Jazz Album of The Year in the 2016 Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll. 

Grace also garnered many awards from jazz critics and fans alike this past year. She was the winner of the 64th Annual 2016 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll as “Rising Star Alto Saxophone,” and voted fourth in the Alto Saxophonist category in the 2016 Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll. She also won “Jazz Artist of the Year” in the 2016 Boston Music Awards and “Alto Saxophonist of the Year” by NYC Jazz Fans Decision 2016.

Grace, who also sings and acts, wrote her first song at seven years old, recorded her first CD at 12, orchestrated and performed her original composition with the Boston Pops Orchestra at 14, and performed at President Obama’s Inauguration at 16. 

As a bandleader she has performed over 700 concerts in over 30 countries in notable venues as the Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Symphony Hall and festivals such as Montreal, Newport and Montreux. 

Grace has performed and/or recorded with Harry Connick Jr, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Martin Short, Maya Rudolph, Emma Stone, Lin Manuel, Questlove, Esperanza Spalding, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Ron Carter, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Huey Lewis and Gloria Estefan to name a few.

On a national tour, Kelly, one of the jazz scene's premiere saxophonists, will be playing Las Vegas Sept. 8-9. Her tour will extend until December. Click here for dates and places.
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